Brass Band 101courtesy of the Dublin Silver BandA fine, concise explanation of the instruments used in brass band and what their roles are.

Me, Myself, and Iby Douglas Yeo (comments from Gene Pokorny)Great discussion on the importance of ensemble members
remembering they are part of an ensemble, not soloists.

Audition Day at the U.S. Coast Guard Bandby Chief Musician Chris HowardA description of what it is like to go for a live audition for the U.S. Coast Guard Band. Each band has its own practices,
but they also have many things in common.

Band History 101by Richard BarthA great discussion to help band directors think just a little "outside the box" to improve retention and band popularity.

Women Brass Musicians on the Vaudeville Stageby Dr. Joanna Ross HerseyDr. Hersey documents some of the many women who performed during the Vaudeville era. She gives us great detail on the publicity material and press coverage of numerous touring chamber and symphonic music acts performing with female brass players between 1890 and 1930.

The Euphonium Familyby David WerdenA discussion of the instruments in the euphonium family, covering their history and development, the various types of instruments, and their history of usage. The article covers euphonium, baritone horn, and double-bell euphonium

Auditions - 12 Random Thoughts from the Other Side of the Screenby William JamesMr. James, Principal Percussionist of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, shares the things that audition panels really care about as they listen to auditions. This must-read article provides logical, solid advice on auditioning for orchestras or bands.

An Historical Lineage of the Modern Baritone Horn and Euphoniumby Dr. Earle LouderDr. Earle Louder give a very comprehensive account of the history and development of the euphonium family of instruments (euphonium, double-bell euphonium, and baritone horn). This is Dr. Louder's dissertation from Florida State University, originally presented in 1976.

My Friends in the Lower Octaveby Denis WickEdited from Denis Wick's Facebook page (where it was posted on Dec. 16, 2014). Used with permission.Denis Wick has had a long and productive career as a player and teacher. And for much of that time he has been working on the "hardware" side of music to develop better equipment for players (you can learn more about that on his business site, www.deniswick.com). I personally own many pounds of Wick mouthpieces and mutes, as one example. His work on both sides has been in cooperation with some of the finest brass players in the world. Below is an article Denis Wick agreed to share with this website's visitors, which is on his Facebook page and has previously appeared in The Brass Herald. I think you will find it instructional and entertaining.

Q and A with Steven Meadby Steven MeadEdited from Steven Mead's Facebook page. Used with permission.On November 25, 2014, euphonium virtuoso Steven Mead offered on his Facebook page (the "Steven Mead Euphonium Club") to answer three questions. He has kindly given me permission to display the complete list of conversations here so they will be more generally available. You can also follow Steven on his website,Euphonium.net.

At the Piano, by Barrie Perrins - Considering Accompanistsby Barrie PerrinsFrom the British Bandsman, January 23, 1965. Used with permission.The great euphoniumist and teacher Barrie Perrins discusses the importance of an accompanist to a musical performance. He covers the partnership aspect, the respect one pays the accompanist by providing proper parts from which to play, nervousness, showmanship, and several other topics.
Oral History Interview of Dr. Paul DrostePart of the Indiana University Tuba-Euphonium Oral History Project. Recorded in Columbus, Ohio, March 25th, 2000. Topic areas include Paul and the Euphonium, Studying with Max Denmark, Jack Evens, Teacher, Harold Brasch, Horn and Mouthpiece, Ensembles, Paul's Relationship with Yamaha, Glenn Call, T.U.B.A., Amateur Brass Bands, Junior Brass Bands, and American Brass Band Literature.

Recollections on Bob Hoeby John JohnsonJohn discusses his professional relationship with Robert Hoe and Hoe's love for bands and band music. Without John and Robert, the band world would be much poorer than it is today. The two enthusiasts brought us recordings of historic marches and some very famous brass soloists.

Interview with Henry Charles SmithPart of the Indiana University Tuba-Euphonium Oral History Project. The great euphoniumist/trombonist/conductor Henry Charles Smith is interviewed about this life and career. Topics include: His Youth and Education, Early Career, Recordings, Orchestra, Band, Eugene Ormandy, Instruments - Trombone and Euphonium, Commissioning Music, Other Music and Transcriptions, Teaching and Coaching, Thoughts on Auditions.

Film Composers and their Symphonic Musicby David WerdenThis is taken from a masters paper in a 20th-Century Symphonies course. Many of today's film composers have backgrounds as symphonic composers and have studied in the same paths as Mahler, etc. Movie goers are regularly inculcated with the orchestrations, chord structure, melodic structure, and other facets of "serious music," even if they don't realize it at the time.